Council housing: Down sizing

oxfordmark

Hello

From being offered a move to a smaller council house, how long do the council allow you to pack for the move?

t0rt0ise

They should give you a date for the beginning of the new tenancy. Ask them for it.

oxfordmark

Me and my partner are in the process of buying and her mum has a viewing of a house with the council Monday.

Can they allow us extra time for the move so hopefully me and my partner will have our new place before her mum has to move?

[Deleted User]

Every council is different, every situation is different, you'll only get a valid answer if you contact them directly and ask.

oxfordmark

SO, she in in the progress of downsizing. We feel very annoyed though.

We went to view the property 2 weeks ago. Our understanding was that once she signs the "notice to quit" on her current property. She would have 4 weeks until she would need to move out of the old house into the new one. We asked about a possible extension (if myself and my partner's house move slows down) and he said that all we would need to pay rent on two property's. Fair enough. A few days later she was given the keys to get painting etc...

Friday, her mum gets a letter through the door saying that the council are paying rent for her 1st week (1st July) and her rent liability would be from Monday 8th!

This totally shocked us as we thought she wouldn't need to pay rent on the new place until she moves in. We are STILL Waiting for the council to give information about removal help, carpeting and for an inspection of our current house.

Are the council in the wrong?

The house is not habitable!

martindow

oxfordmark wrote: »

The house is not habitable!

Not habitable or you would like to decorate it first?

Most people who move houses have to decorate or make changes while they live in the house. It is understandable that the council want you to move quickly so they can get new tenants in.

Errata

Why have the council offered an uninhabitable property?

SailorSam

I worked in the housing dept of our Council and tenants were given grants for decorating etc if houses were in a bad state, but that was over 35yrs ago. You'd need to ask at the Council Office.

oxfordmark

Hey

The house isn't habitable yet because she has only just received the paint to do the walls. Also, she is yet to get any information about how she can get carpet fitted (costs covered by the council) and the council's removal service and for our current house to get inspected.

So she has to pay rent for a property that she cannot live in.

tim123456789

oxfordmark wrote: »

Hey

The house isn't habitable yet because she has only just received the paint to do the walls. Also, she is yet to get any information about how she can get carpet fitted (costs covered by the council) and the council's removal service and for our current house to get inspected.

So she has to pay rent for a property that she cannot live in.

Oh, so perfectly habitable then, just in need of decoration

tim

jjj1980

The house I am in now took 6 months repairs by the council from when I was given the keys to make it habitable. I then moved in and decorated as I went along.

This was in 2010 and I didn't get any grants for decorating, help with moving and certainly no help with floor coverings!! I would be very surprised if the council concerned provide any help.